of lima



W. W. ST. JOHN.

Sleigh. No 20.903. Ptented July 13, I858v a; mans, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, wAshme'rdii. 1-6.-

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIGE.

WM. W. ST. JOHN, OF LIMA, NEW YORK.

ATTACHING SLEIGH-RUNNERS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 20,903, dated July 13, 1858.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WVILLIAM WV. ST. JOHN, of Lima, in the county of Livingston and State of New York, have invented, made, and applied to use a certain new and useful Improvement in Attaching Sleigh- Runners to the Bodies of Sleighs; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawing, making part of this specification, wherein Figure l, is a side elevation of the runners and bolsters and Fig. 2, is an elevation of the back part of the hind runner with my improved bolsters.

Similar marks of reference indicate the same parts.

My invention is applicable to sleighs having two pairs of runners, and in this character of sleigh it is well known that inde pendent motions must be allowed to each pair of runners to accommodate any inequalities in the surface over which the sleigh may pass. For this purpose the front pair of runners has been set on a king bolt and fifth wheel, and the back pair has been attached to the cross tree or body of the sleigh by joints, and chains attached to the forward ends of the runners to prevent too much motion. In this case the hind runner is pushed, instead of drawn along, rendering its motion uneasy, and subjecting the same to liability to become injured in passing into ruts. IVith this inconvenience in view it has been sought to draw the hind runner along by an attachment at the forward ends and allow motion at the bolsters by means of rollers introduced at said bolsters, but this device is expensive, and not readily adapted to sleigh runners already construct ed, without raising the body of the sleigh sufficiently high for introducing the friction rollers and rolling bolster.

My said invention therefore does not consist in attaching the forward end of the hind runner, so as to draw the same, but my said invention does consist in connecting the said runner to the cross tree of the sleigh by means of a T formed slide in combination with a hinged or jointed cap on the runner or sleigh, when said runner is drawn along by a suitable connection to its forward end, thereby a free movement is allowed to the hind runners, by a simple strong and eflicient device that is applicable to sleighs already constructed, as well as to those being built.

In the drawing a, is the front runner and b, the hind runner, formed in pairs of any usual size or shape, and to the front runner a, the pole or shaft 0, is to be attached by the usual joint d, is the bolster to the front runner under the cross tree 6, through which the king bolt 2, passes to connect the parts; circles or fifth wheels might be applied at this point but I prefer that the king bolt be made with a globular head to form a universal oint and allow freedom of motion to the runner under the sleigh body.

7 is the perch running from the front cross tree 6, to the hind cross tree 9 and on these cross trees the sleigh body, of any desired character is sustained.

h, is the draft block for the hind runner, attached to the perch f, and connected to the said runner b, by the straps 2', or equivalent device, so as to draw said runner by its front end. It will now be apparent that as said runner passes over any inequalities in the surface traveled over, the elevation or depression of the forward end of the runner involves a movement at the cross tree g. I therefore provide, at this point, the bolsters 7c, in, formed of the cap pieces 8, jointed at a, to the cross tree 9, so as to allow for changes in the angle of the runner relatively with the body of the sleigh; and said cap pieces 3, set over and slides on the T formed pieces 5, that are attached on the upper side of the runner. By means of bolsters on each side, thus constructed, a free motion is allowed to the hind runner in passing over an uneven surface, at the same time that said runner is securely connected to the body of the sleigh and is drawn along by a connection to its forward end.

The relative positions of the'cap 3, and T piece 5 might be inverted if desired.

I do not claim allowing motion to the hind runner at the bolsters, said runner being drawn along by a connection at its forward end, but

What I claim as my invention and de- In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set sire to secure by Letters Patent, is my signature this fifteenth day of January 10 The combination of the T formed slide 1858. 5, cap 3, and joint 4, for attaching the hind N11 5 runner of sleighs t0 the body, When said i JOHN runner is drawn by a connect-ion to its for- Witnesses: Ward end substantially as and for the pur- T. J. WILLETT, poses specified. WILLIAM. A. WARNER. 

